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Sports

SPORTS

Shootouts have place in college

Ann Arbor — I left Saturday's hockey game against Michigan feeling a little empty. Maybe even a little unsatisfied. And it wasn't because I was disappointed by the Spartans' performance — far from it.

ICE HOCKEY

And the rivalry lives on

Ann Arbor — After a hard-fought match with rival Michigan, the MSU hockey team left Yost Ice Arena the same way it entered — undefeated. In an intense game that lasted nearly three hours, the Spartans managed a 3-3 tie with the No.

SPORTS

Spartans pound Wildcats for first Big Ten victory

Things are looking a little brighter for the MSU field hockey team. After starting their conference season 0-4, the Spartans earned their first Big Ten win by beating Northwestern 4-1 Saturday. "It feels awesome," head coach Michele Madison said. The Spartans (10-7 overall, 1-4 Big Ten) struck first nine minutes into the contest.

SOCCER

MSU offense struggles in shutout loss to PSU

The MSU men's soccer team was shut out for the sixth time this season as Penn State scored a late goal in double overtime to beat the Spartans 1-0 and clinch the Big Ten title. The Spartans (5-4-5 overall 2-2-1 Big Ten), outshot the Nittany Lions 11-7 but squandered the chances that were given to them. "We can't win if we don't score, so we didn't deserve to win," head coach Joe Baum said. Forward Simon Omekanda fired a shot past junior goalie Jason Tillman to give Penn State (8-6-2, 5-0-0) the victory. "He made a move and hit it hard," senior defender Steve Doster said. "It was a good finish.

SPORTS

Monday musings

• We were going to apologize that the Musings disappeared mysteriously last week. But now we're not going to until the MSU football team apologizes for doing the same thing this weekend. • An Oklahoma man received a 30-year prison sentence this week, but convinced prosecutors to lengthen it to 33 years to match Larry Bird's jersey number. Let's hope Saddam Hussein's a big fan of Wayne Gretzky — No.

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball team splits weekend matches

The MSU volleyball team earned a split this weekend, losing to No. 7 Wisconsin on Friday, then beating Northwestern on Saturday in a five-game thriller at Jension Field House. The Spartans (10-10 overall, 3- 7 Big Ten) snapped their five-game losing streak when they defeated the Wildcats (12-8, 3-7). Starting Homecoming weekend off, the Spartans dropped a five-game nail biter to Wisconsin (16-2, 8-1). The Spartans had controlled most of the game but the Badgers would make plays at key moments to give them the 3-2 edge to win the game.

VOLLEYBALL

High-profile losses not keeping MSU down

In the midst of studying for midterms and coming off a tough road trip where it dropped back-to-back matches, the MSU women's volleyball team is ready to get back in action during Homecoming weekend. MSU (9-9 overall, 2-6 Big Ten) takes on No.

SPORTS

MSU looking for kickstart at home

It's been 10 years since the MSU field hockey team found itself in its current position. The Spartans have started the Big Ten season 0-4 for the first time since 1995, putting them in unfamiliar and undesirable territory. This weekend, the team will look to right the ship by hosting winless conference foe Northwestern at 3:30 p.m.

SPORTS

Seniors get big goodbye game

The MSU women's soccer team begins its last home stand of the 2005 season today at 3 p.m. against Minnesota at Old College Field. The Spartans (9-3-4 overall, 5-1-1 Big Ten) will then face Penn State, the No.

ICE HOCKEY

Icers prepare to battle No. 1 U-M

With a big game against No. 1 Michigan coming up this Saturday, the MSU hockey team wasn't found on the ice Thursday night. Instead, head coach Rick Comley canceled practice and took the team bowling. Comley's doing whatever he can to take the pressure off the Spartans (2-0-0 overall) before they travel to Yost Ice Arena to face the Wolverines on Saturday at 7:35 p.m. Last year, the Spartans played two games against U-M at Yost, losing one and tying the other. "They always have a dynamic team that's very good offensively, so we have to play very well," Comley said. Michigan is led by juniors Matt Hunwick and T.J.

FOOTBALL

Standings muddled after PSU defeat

Minnesota, Michigan, MSU and Indiana, welcome back to the Big Ten race. With U-M downing the only undefeated team in the conference, Penn State, every Big Ten team now has at least one conference loss. Wisconsin, Penn State, Iowa, Northwestern and Ohio State are atop the standings with one loss. That's one crowded driver's seat.

SPORTS

Pistons about to be eclipsed by LeBron, Heat, Artest's rap career

The NBA preseason just kicked off and the regular season opens on Nov. 1. There's no time like the present to answer some pressing questions heading into the opener. What team didn't do anything to get better? That would be none other than our own Detroit Pistons, who desperately needed a three-point threat for when Rip Hamilton or Tayshaun Prince are ready for a breather.

FOOTBALL

John L. sticking with defense for lack of better option

The Spartans football season has been marked by a stellar offense and an inconsistent defense through six games this year. Although the defense shined in wins against Kent State, Hawaii and Illinois, the tables turned in a loss to Michigan and Saturday's loss to Ohio State, in which the defense surrendered passing touchdowns of 51, 57 and 46 yards. MSU head coach John L.

SOCCER

MSU blanks 3rd straight opponent

The shutouts keep piling up for the MSU soccer team as it defeated arch-rival Michigan 2-0 Sunday at Old College Field, extending its shutout streak to three games. "We really came out focused," head coach Joe Baum said.